African violet plant named Improved Ellen

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Improved Ellen characterized by its single pink flowers with frilled edges; strong, upright flower stems that curve slightly toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; medium green, oval, serrated leaves, profuse flowering, vigorous and compact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeks after potting, and its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Improved Ellen.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation I/11/15 and and is a product of a plannedbreeding program. The basic objective of the breeding program was tocreate a new african violet cultivar improving certain characteristicsof the cultivar Ellen, disclosed in my U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,493. Thenew cultivar was originated from a cross made by me in the controlledbreeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany. The female, orseed parent was a cultivar designated F 38/6. The male, or pollen parentwas a cultivar designated G 24/1.

Improved Ellen was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inHaffen, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leafcuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany, has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newcultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

Improved Ellen has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in a 10 cm pot in Haffen, West Germany and Nashville,Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Improved Ellen, which in combinationdistinguish this african violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Strong, upright flower stems curving slightly toward the center.

(2) Violet-shaped pink flowers with frilled edges.

(3) Each plant carries 8-10 and more upright flower stems each of whichcarries 5-7 and more flowers.

(4) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(5) Vigorous and compact grower.

(6) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after potting.

(7) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(8) Medium green, serrated, oval leaves.

(9) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The new cultivar is most similar to, and was specifically intended toimprove upon the characteristics of, my previously patented cultivarEllen. In comparison to Ellen, the new cultivar is principallydistinguished by its larger size, denser folige, larger and more ovalleaves, lighter pink color, somewhat larger blooms and better floweringhabit.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 1 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., c.v. ImprovedEllen.

Parentage:

Male parent.--G 24/1.

Female parent.--F. 38/6.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 9 cm to 12 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately24≧28 cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Oval. Diameter: 60-70 mm wide and 65-75 mm long.Texture: Leatherlike. Aspect: Hairy, serrated, slightly shiny. Veins:Upperside: well visible; underside: well pronounced, light green, shiny.Color (upperside): Yellow-Green Group 147 A. Color (underside):Greyed-Green Group 194 C with occasionally very fine shadesGreyed-Purple Group 186 B. Petiole: Strong upright, light green withpurplish brown touch on the side facing the flowerhead, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Bell-shaped, 6-8 mm just before opening, pinkish green.Sepals: Five (5). Color: Purplish brown. Calyx: Shape: Funnel-shaped.Aspect: Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Character: Strong upright, hairy.Color: Green with purplish brown touch. Individual flowers: Size:approximately 45 mm. Shape: Single with frilled edges. The petals arealmost all the same size. Color (upperside): Purple Group 78 B to C.Under cooler temperatures and more intensive lighting, the pink tends tointensify. Color (underside): Purple Group 78 D. Borne: Each flower stemcarries 5-7 and more flowers on strong, upright peduncle that are freestanding above the leaves, thereby forming a compact bouquet. Flowerhabit: Flowers 10-11 weeks after potting

Reproductive organs.--Stamens; Two (2). Anthers: 2 composed of 4 anthercells, seed capsule pushes slightly through. Fillaments: Yellowish green3-4 mm long. Pollen Color: Yellow Group 7 A. Styles: 7 mm long, pink,base of ovary light green and hairy.

Roots.--Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General observations: Improved Ellen is a very attractive, vigorous andcompact grower with medium green, oval, serrated leaves. A tight bouquetof flowers free standing above the leaves develops after approximately10-11 weeks. Each of the 8-10 and more strong flower stems carries 5-7and more single pink flowers with frilled edges. The petals are almostall the same size. The flowers are long-lasting and non-dropping and theseed capsules push slightly through. Occasionally, 1 to 2 additionalvery small petals may develop in the center.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named ImprovedEllen, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized byits single pink flowers with frilled edges, strong, upright flower stemsthat curve slightly toward the center to form a compact bouquet abovethe leaves, medium green, oval, serrated leaves; profuse flowering,vigorous and compact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeks after potting,and its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.